"I have never understood the appeal of Peter Pan," says Brat Pack member Andrew McCarthy in his book, BRAT: AN '80S STORY. For those unfamiliar, Peter Pan is a children's tale about staying a child forever. And being able to fly! The female lead is a girl named Wendy, and as the only girl, she is the real main character.
Andrew, try being a girl, and I think you will get the appeal of Peter Pan.
Girl-to-woman is not nearly as desirable a transition as boy-to-man.
I mean, it is moreso today versus when you were a boy in the 1960s, for sure. Today, women can have their own bank accounts. Today, women can have credit cards without a man co-signing. Today, women can buy real estate and cars without their husband or dad cosigning. Today, women are accepted in most careers without a double-take, not just in nursing and teaching.
But.
Women have pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and menstrual cramps.
On average, women are still paid less than men for the same jobs.
Women who want to procreate have to deal with pregnancy and childbirth.
Married women still have to deal with their husbands being the main account holder on jointly held accounts.
At the average age of 50, women have to deal with menopausal hot flushes (which are commonly called hot flashes). I myself started getting these at age 36 and am still getting them, 25 years later.
And I could go on and on.
I am grateful that at least now women can vote (in the USA) and support ourselves and own cars and real estate on our own, unlike when Peter Pan was written.
